Tag Archives: Michael Baisden

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Death By Entertainment…

Hello World,

Wasn’t it surreal to watch President Obama make his way down the center aisle of the House chamber last night? He looked like a rock star as everyone was clamoring to shake hands with him. And then when President Obama introduced his wife as the first lady…I still feel like I’m dreaming sometimes when I watch him speak on television…We have an intelligent president…and he’s black…and his wife is black….Wow! But I digress…As much as I adore the Obamas, they are not the subject of this post…

If you live in the A and listen to the radio, then you are probably aware that Rev. Al Sharpton’s and Warren Ballentine’s talk programs are off the radio. Their shows used to be on 102.5 FM, but now it is a gospel station. 107. 5 is now an R&B rather than jazz station and is being simulcast on 97.5, which is used to be the gospel station. Steve Harvey’s and Michael Baisden’s talk shows, however, were saved. Confusing isn’t it?…And sad too…Apparently Sharpton’s and Ballentine’s shows didn’t have high enough ratings…All I know is that I loved my daily dose of Warren Ballentine, Rev. Al and Michael Baisden during this past election process…They got me fired up and ready to take action…Because of their programs, I wore black on the day of the Jena 6 march…I learned about people like Troy Davis and others  from Rev. Al.  I learned more about CNN commentators Roland Martin and Donna Brazile. Basically, their programs spurred my latent interest in politics, civil rights and civil disobedience…

I must confess after Obama was elected, I didn’t listen with as much dedication, but it was encouraging to know that whenever I wanted to switch it up a bit, I could plug into either Warren Ballentine or Rev. Al. And then on Feb. 16, without much of a warning, they were gone. And all that is left alleged crackheads K-Ci and JoJo whining about loving somebody for life and other similar throwback R&B groups….now I love me some R&B, but during the workday, it would be nice to hear about issues instead of being lulled to sleep by love songs and what not…it almost feels like we’re drinking the Kool-Aid if you know what I mean…This is what the WORD has to say about it all…

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6

I signed a petition to get them back on the radio. Does anyone know the status of this petition? If you haven’t signed it and want them back, take a moment to sign it. It’s easy….

On the national front, Farai Chideya’s News and Notes on NPR will be officially be off the radio waves in March although Chideya is not hosting the program in its final weeks. I sometimes listened to the engaging program as I drove to Bible study on Wednesdays. Black people from a broad spectrum of life were featured on the program, and it was delightful to hear a black woman in my age group have her say…The show was the victim of our country’s tough economic times…

Now if your views are on the conversative side, you can listen to Herman Cain on News/Talk WSB 750 from 7-10 p.m. weekdays. I am tempted to say bad things, but his bio is crazy impressive…so I will let you be the judge…

Anyway, if you see me snoozing in my car at the red light, honk your horn and wake me up…R&B all day puts me to sleep…I guess I could get satellite radio and broaden my choices…but I’m too cheap and not into techy upgrade stuff for all that…I guess my religious folk probably think I could listen to messages from pastors and what not…uhh, I think I will pass…don’t get me wrong, but I need an extra jolt during the day…and I like to be plugged into current events…guess I will be turning back to good ole Clark Howard…The Lord knows I could know more about money management…

Any thoughts?

Note: I know there are other talk radio programs hosted by black people on other radio stations…I’m just talking about the ones that have earned my interest…And I will attempt to listen to 1380 AM here in the A…but I prefer FM programs…

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The Obama Nation v. The Hater Nation

Hello World!!!

The hate is thick! Since our first black president-elect was chosen on Nov. 4, hate , like the lava from a volcano, has been oozing out and I hope things don’t erupt…But on the other hand, I, like many other Americans I’m sure, didn’t expect the first black president to skate into the White House unfettered by the restraints of racism.

However, I am bothered by the response of some Christians’ response to Obama’s win because whether they want to admit it or not, they too, are racist. (Yeah, I said it. Shout out Michael Baisden, ha,ha)  Here’s the thing. I am a Christian. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I believe He arose from the dead. I believe that He is coming back again. Case closed. But I sincerely believe that these Christians, these Christians who have hijacked the Republican Party, sincerely believe that if you are not on their side, then you are on the side of the devil.

A friend of mine, Ms. D, sent an e-mail to me about this big time Christian’s response to Obama’s historic win. Apparently, this guy Dutch Sheets, who I had never heard of before last week, is a minister and prayer warrior known throughout the world. His printed response is Exhibit A in my argument that some Christians are just racist when it comes to their lack of support of Obama. (Actually for the purpose of brevity, I don’t have an Exhibit B, but whatever- it’s my blog. 🙂 )

Read his  written response here. Here are just a few snippets of some of the things Sheets said. First of all, he said that Obama’s win was not God’s will. He said that “as a nation we put on the blinders concerning Barak Obama’s background, associations, beliefs, and practices and set these causes (he was referring to abortion and other issues) back years, possibly decades. And in doing so we took another step away from God and His plans for America and another step toward judgment.”

First of all, I promise you that this guy spells “Barack” as “Barak” throughout the whole article. What is up with that? You don’t even respect him enough as the president-elect and as a human being to spell his name right. This seemingly small mistake points to a latent disrespect of the man. And it’s funny about this whole association thing that the Republicans tried to make an issue of prior to the election. For months, Obama was criticized for his association with his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. I don’t say that I agree with all of Wright’s beliefs, but at least everyone could point to the fact that Obama had a Christian pastor. What pastor was McCain associated with? Since we are talking about beliefs, associations and practices? What does McCain believe? Who was he associated with? What were his practices? I won’t dredge up all of the issues of this past election season, but as someone said to me last night, when you would rather elect a known adulterer who shies away from any discussions of faith, than someone who you can identify as a Christian who has been the faithful husband of one wife and call that “God’s will,” then I have got to believe that another issue is really the real issue.

Then Sheets goes on to detail some of the judgments that Americans will face as a result of Obama’s presidency, “more economic woes” was at the top of the list.  Well, Mr. Sheets, if “economic woes” is a sign of God’s judgment, then God used President George Bush to usher in that judgment, and we all know that he is a true Christian as he is a member of the Republication party. (The sarcasm is dripping from my lips…) Actually, it is my belief that if Bush hadn’t been such an atrocious president, then Obama wouldn’t have had a chance to get elected. I wonder if that was God’s will too…

He then goes on to address any false predictions he may have made regarding the election and the resulting backlash. “Like many, believing I had many promises and confirmations that God would ‘grace’ us with a pro-life president in this election, I failed to consider strongly enough that all promises-even scripture are conditional 99.9 percent of the time…If this caused any harm or confusion, I apologize.” He said he was “somewhat angry at the nation in general and much of the Church.” You know what I say to that, stop writing checks with your mouth that your actions can’t cash…

And here’s the kicker. He compared Sarah Palin to women in the Bible. “I believe she is an Esther, a Deborah, with a huge mantle from God for reformation. God has great destiny for her related to this nation if she chooses to continue down this path.”  (Sheets haven’t you learned? Stop writing checks!) Goodness, I must have no spiritual discernment to miss that Sarah Palin is a Biblical woman reincarnated. If that is the case, then Bush is Abraham or maybe even Paul…Mr. Dutch Sheets, you may be “passing the dutchie” because you are sadly mistaken! And you know what else, I just think you are a part of the Hater Nation rather than the Obama nation. And since Obama will be the next president of the United States of America, it is with a special joy that I say this. “America. Love it or Leave it.”

I could say more, but I won’t because I want to hear from you…

Any thoughts?